RAMPS and a 20mph speed limit have been removed on the Silver Jubilee Bridge as the repair project reaches its next stage.

Work to replace the worn out main expansion joints has gone well and the bridging ramps were removed at the weekend - seven days early.

And that means the 20mph speed limit - which led to hundreds of motorists receiving speeding fines - has been lifted earlier than expected.

The speed limit has reverted to 40mph during weekdays and council chiefs hope this will help minimise delays while the work is completed.

Evenings and weekend work will still require lane restrictions and a 20mph speed limit to protect workers.

Waterproofing and surfacing work will be carried out over the next few weekends followed by the replacement of minor bridge joints.

Motorists and van and HGV drivers are still advised to allow extra time for their journeys.

Rob Polhill, Halton Borough Council's executive board member for development, planning and transportation, said: 'I am very pleased to see that the roadworks programme is going according to plan and that contractors are working to schedule.

'By limiting lane closures to evenings and weekends, we and the contractors hope to cause minimal disruption to traffic flow.'

The council caused a storm earlier this year when it announced that the popular Halton Show would have to be cancelled due to the bridge repair works.

They believed the bridge would be unable to cope with the extra traffic, causing congestion.